By Fr Blany Pinto for BIS Mumbai

The hillside town of Lonavla, known for its quiet ridges and cooling winds, turned into a place of torrential spiritual downpour and profound renewal as the aspirants of Don Bosco gathered for their Annual Spiritual Retreat from August 22 - 24, 2025. Led by Father Allwyn Misquitta, a reputed and charismatic retreat preacher sought after across India for his healing ministry, the three-day encounter unfolded as both a disciplined programme and a spiritual ascent.

The retreat "Be An Agent of Change," opened on Friday evening with hymns of praise and worship, ushering the aspirants into The Power of the Love of God. Later, the session Jesus the Universal Saviour deepened their focus on Christ at the centre of vocation. Silence accompanied the evening meal, before the rosary, adoration, and benediction brought the night to a contemplative close.

Saturday formed the retreat’s heart. Dawn prayers and the Eucharist grounded the aspirants before they were led through reflections on The Power of the Holy Spirit, devotion to Mother Mary, and a striking session on God’s Plan of Salvation. The afternoon shifted towards reconciliation: The Power of Repentance prepared the way for the Sacrament of Confession. Evening prayer turned to The Power of Divine Healing, where Father Misquitta’s gift for charismatic ministry invited aspirants into an intimate encounter with grace. The day ended with an intercessory healing rosary, revision of insights, and Divine Healing Adoration, sealing reflection with silence.

Sunday carried the retreat to its summit. After early worship and Eucharist, the aspirants entered Biblical Reflections on the Mountain, evoking the scriptural call to encounter God in high places. The later sessions, Personal Spiritual Transformation and Becoming the Best Version of Myself, urged the aspirants to align their lives with their deepest call. Thanksgiving prayers and a mercy service marked the closing arc, followed by feedback shared with Salesian staff. The retreat concluded not with solemnity alone but with tea, games, and shared laughter—a reminder that joy, too, belongs at the heart of discernment.

The retreat was marked by modest dress and reverent simplicity, minimising distraction and strengthening focus on prayer. For the aspirants of Don Bosco, these three days were not only formation but a deepening of vocation. Under Father Misquitta’s inspired preaching, they discovered silence as strength, healing as promise, and God’s call as the enduring thread in their lives.